04/03/17

Jeff,
I want to thank you, Mary Ann, Cara, Kendra, Dr. Christeson, the choir,
and the Session for the
truly inspiring, nurturing, and encouraging ways in which all of you
provide leadership for
Westminster By-The-Sea Presbyterian Church. It has been a wonderful
experience for both
Alice and me to share as 'Snowbirds' in the Westminster faith community.
I also want to thank
you for the opportunity to share in the Wednesday morning Bible study
that you lead.

We look forward to next year!
Ross and Alice Jackson
(Ross is a retired Presbyterian minister. He and his wife live in Salem,
Ohio)

*********************

Our Church Changes Lives Ö For the Better!

Several weeks ago I attended a meeting informing us
about a trip to Israel/Palestine a person in our presbytery had. I was
very interested in hearing what she had learned and experienced on their
trip. I was amazed when I heard the biased presentation. It was very
difficult to believe we had been in the same place in July! The entire
Westminster By-The-Sea group had such a positive experience as we
visited Israel and Palestine. Our tour guide, Mike, was such a
wonderful Christian person and presented all sides of the ongoing
conflict while showing us and teaching us about his home, the Holy Land,
always making us feel as if it was also our home.

Starting with some trepidation due to the political
unrest, I want to report that as landed at Ben Gurion airport my
daughter Karen and I traveled in peace and joy! We felt it was an
opportunity of a lifetime to walk where our Savior walked and see so
many places in the Bible with our fearless Shepherd and Bus Captain, Dr.
Sumner. We were blessed to have the Holy Land brought to life and we
felt much protected by the E O tour Group who looked out for our safety
daily. If you ever have the opportunity to make this Pilgrimage, please
take advantage of it, It will change your life forever. You will never
be sorry.

As a final note, Karen and I thank our Dear fellow
Travelers so much for being kind, loving and helpful every day, and not
complaining [out loud] about us slowing all of you down as we were
always the caboose. Mostly, thanks for not throwing us under the
bus!!

Blessings to you,

Helen Chandler

*********************

Mary Ann:
Thanks to you and Jeff for keeping in touch with us in Maryland. Your
cards on special occasions are very thoughtful and keeps us in the
family while 800 miles away. Also congratulations to you and Jeff for 30
years of spectacular service. We enjoyed reading the Spire about how it
all began and hope to read more. The growth of the Church is a tribute
to Jeff''s and your strong and capable support.

Hope to
see you in October. Don and Susie

*********************

Your children's
message this past Sunday was manifested today. Our young
neighbor asked me if I knew where she might buy an aloe plant to use
to ease he discomfort from radiation treatments.

Being a poor
excuse for a horticulturist I could only think one or two garden
centers. I asked Bea to join us and she told our neighbor that we
have an aloe plant in our back yard and to help herself to all the
that she needs. Bea cuta
spear for her and I thought of this past Sunday. Sometimes we
just donít know when Godís work will be done.

Gay

*********************

On any given day I would probably have a different answer to the
question ďHow has Westminster changed my life for the better?Ē
Today as I look back on who Naomi was when I joined this church in
April of 2007, and the person I am today, I know that it is an
ongoing process of change. As most Christians I thought I was a good
Christian, a good person, who having a relationship with Jesus had
most of the answers. I believed and thought that this is all that I
needed. What happened next was I took Disciple I and found out that
I didnít know the true meaning of the Bible and/or Godís word.

From there, as
they say, the rest is history. I was blessed with our wonderful
church women who guided me through becoming the moderator of P.W.
ďWho am I Lord.Ē now is knowing God has a plan for me and the
courage to open my eyes and heart and say yes! With God by my side I
can do this. I went from being a person who sits in the pews to
understanding the joy of being a Disciple. Today I am able to sing
in our choir and my heart is filled with the love of the Music
Ministry to honor God and to give him the Glory though song. God
fills me in my time of need when I miss my beloved husband, Tom. To
say that Iíve been changed is an understatement. I canít wait to
see how God uses me in the future. I thank the love of everyone at
Westminster-By-The- Sea in my ever changing spiritual life growth.
God Bless you all.

Naomi Riddle

*********************

No other church like Westminster by the Sea. I have been away almost 14
years now and still miss my home church. Congratulations on 60 years!

Kelly Jeter Redmond

*********************

Ryan and Stephanie Mosbauer met
Rev. Sumner as they planned for their wedding that was held in our
sanctuary on May 12, 2007. In time Ryan And Stephanie had a daughter,
Mya, and found their way back to the church. Ryan and Mya were baptized
and they joined the church. It was a happy day, and Mya became known in
the early service children's sermons and in the nursery.
When Mya became sick recently, we prayed for her and stayed in touch
with the family. Rev. Sumner took the church flowers to their house when
she came home to recover. She is now well (thanks be to God!) and we
received this note from Ryan And Stephanie:

"Pastor Jeff,
Thank you so much from bringing Mya flowers. They were beautiful. We
really appreciate all the prayers for her. She has fully recovered and
she is very excited about getting back to church!
With love,
Stephanie, Ryan, and Mya"
*********************

Twenty four years ago when we
purchased our house in Daytona Beach we started looking for a church to
be our church away from home. The first one we visited was WBTS. We
liked it so much we joined as Affiliate Members. When you enter the
church you can feel the presence of God and the sermons are inspiring.
The people are friendly and caring. WBTS has memories for me as my
grandson, Wesley, got married in the church and our great granddaughter
was christened there. When my husband had a stroke one Sunday after
church Jeff was at the hospital praying for him. We called it a miracle
because he came out of it! Later on August 2013 he had another stroke
and passed away. Jeff came to Georgia and was with our family and had
the service. Jeff and Mary Ann are the best. They are always there
when you need them. Cara and Richard are wonderful. Thank you for
letting us be a part of WBTS. We have been blessed.

Annette Starrett
*********************

Looking for a Church Home

Two years ago we became Floridians and needed to find a church we could
call home. We needed a Pastor who was a man of God, a teacher, and a
good sermon deliverer. We needed a church where the Pastor loved his
congregation and his congregation loved him back. It would be nice to
have an attractive church facility. A friendly church where one could
volunteer in various activities. A church we could be proud of as it is
relevant. We found all of these requirements at Westminster By-The-Sea
Presbyteiran!

John & Marcia Carlson
*********************

Dear Dr. Sumner,

It was good to meet you after the Christmas Eve candlelight service! We
certainly understand that there was no time to talk due to the sudden
heavy rainstorm and the rush of people leaving.

We want you to know that we found the service to be very meaningful and
inspirational. We consider it to be the high point of our week in
Daytona Beach, and we look forward to continuing the tradition! It was
wonderful to celebrate the birth of our Lord with such a vibrant
congregation. The solos were very beautiful, and I found the choirís
attention to expressive phrasing to be exceptional. Also, it was
thrilling to hear the pipe organ in all its glory during the carol
singing! As a musician, I always like to see the pastor singing with
the choir; itís a sign of how much the music program is appreciated!
(Itís also a sign of how much the pastor loves music!)

Best wishes to you and your family for a very blessed New Year!

Fred and Sharon Stroup, Birmingham, Alabama

*********************

Today one bouquet
of flowers has been given by Dave Rothwell in honor of his loving mother
and his new Christian family at Westminster. I have watched Dave change
for the better over the last three years. He came to us uncertain in
faith and with personal issues that troubled him. Over the years, he has
become an usher, has worked around the church, and will help anyone he
sees in need. Last year he joined my DISCIPLE I class, one that takes
much reading and homework. Neither was easy for him but he stayed with
it! He is now with us in DISCIPLE II. One thing our class knew was that
Dave was a pack a day smoker. Five weeks ago he said to our class; ďI am
not going to smoke anymore.Ē He did not say, ďI will try to stop
smoking,Ē he said ĎI will not smoke.Ē And he hasnít! We are proud of
him! Last Sunday he loaded a bag with CDs, and a CD player and, put on
his headphones, and proceeded to walk the five mile CROP walk to earn
almost $300 for hungry people! Way to go, Dave! God isnít finished with
you yet!

(Jeff Sumner)

*********************

Being a shepherd has been
amazing. This year I have had a grandmother tell me how happy her
grandson is when he leaves Sunday School and he talks about what he did
in class. The grandmother has also said she appreciates how much I have
welcomed him into the Sunday school class.

On a personal note, I want to thank Cara for all she has done with
Stacy. I donít think Stacy would have gotten through a lot of things
without talking to Cara and having friends at this church. Stacy has
grown up here and has made me so proud to become a shepherd, help with
VBS and going on missions trips. I am more involved in the church also!

(Janet Neeka)

*********************

Why I'm returning to WBTS
What a joy to be returning to Westminster-By-The-Sea Presbyterian
Church! My name is Don Kruger, and I am singer, pianist, music teacher,
and also an experienced church choir director. This means that, over the
past 8 years, when the Lord called me to other churches as music
director, I sadly had to leave Westminster as a singer in the Choir. My
last church job started off so well: a very dedicated choir with good,
enthusiastic singers; a pastor with whom I felt a partnership in the
Gospel; and a chance to write new music for the choir and congregation
to sing. But as change is inevitable, the pastor retired and the new
pastor came in wanting a more contemporary sound in our music. I felt a
lot of pressure from many sides to create a "worship band" and to
incorporate music that is heard on some Christian radio stations...
Which brings me to why I am returning to Westminster. Above all, there
is sincerity and depth to the preaching of God's word here. Discipleship
is stressed as the goal for each worshiper, and the congregation is both
warm and charitable. Also, there is a well thought-out position on the
role music has in Christian ministry, with a strong commitment to the
music of the organ, piano, and other acoustic instruments. Paramount is
the singing of excellent hymns that stand the test of time, whose words
and music truly feed the soul. It is great joy for me in coming back to
Westminster to work with extraordinarily gifted music leaders, to sing
in a choir that is second to none in this area, and to use hymnals
again!

Don Kruger

*********************

Dear Jeff,
Mother wanted you to know how much she enjoyed the funny birthday card
from you and Mary Ann. It was very cute. It looks like you and your
family are thriving.

Mother had a good 103rd birthday celebration with flowers and phone
calls from family and lots of fuss from Dawn in whose home she lives.

Mother continues to do well except for her failing vision which I am
trying to fix.

Blessings to you and Mary Anne.

Barbara & Linton
Ada Juliusí family

*********************

This is my church
away from church when I travel to Daytona, which is often. I love it!
Just the right size, moving worship, awesome preaching straight from The
Word, stimulating education and VBS, extensive outreach to many; plus
friendly, loving, God-fearing, Jesus loving friends. What more can you
ask for in a church?!

Karen Chandler Armistead Lives in Longwood; she is an Affiliate Member;
her full membership is in" Northland: A Church Distributed."

*********************

Dear Reverend Jeff,

Your enhanced vision machine is very much appreciated. It is
used every day and several times a day. I can put a letter in and read
the return address label to see whose mail I will have to have someone
else read to me. And of course, I can read the small print little bits
at a time of the newspaper, but Iíve never quit taking the newspaper.

Thank you and the church for this wonderful service of
letting me use this machine.

Cordially yours,

Wayne Christeson
*********************

I just wanted to send my
expressions of love and gratitude to Jeff, Cara, and our congregation
for all the prayers and good wishes that were sent my way during my
seven week hospitalization in Texas. Prayer is powerful and I felt its
power, particularly when wrapped in my beautiful prayer shawl! Thanks to
Helen Chandler and the prayer shawl team too. I continue to seek prayers
for my upcoming surgery on December 19th. In Christian Love, Barbara
Wagner

*********************

Westminster Changes Lives For the
Better

If you ever wonder about the power of faith and prayer on our children,
let me share this story.

On June 7th our youngest daughter, Kristen, married her now husband,
Tylan. We have raised Kristen and Kaylee at WBTS when at our home in
Daytona and back in Cincinnati.

On Kristenís 13th birthday we presented her with a purity ring in a
brief ceremony at church. We encouraged her to live her life in a
Christ-like manner following Biblical guidance.

During the marriage ceremony Kristen came down, opened my hand, placed
her purity ring in my palm and closing my hand in hers said, ďDad, I
have kept my promise to you and God.Ē

What a blessing to have faith, a church to raise a family in and Godís
guidance through His word to lead us and our families.

Matthew Smith
*********************

Out of my comfort zone, changing
my life! ....
A year or so after joining the church Toni, who was on the Christian Ed
committee at the time, asked if I would consider teaching computer
classes for the children during Sunday school ....

This scared me to death, as I had never taught a single child anything
in my life. I prayed about it and, in the fall of 2005, started teaching
children. That year I learned so much about how to work with, teach, and
laugh with children, little did I know how important that would be in a
short year!

As the summer of 2006 came to a close, Toni and I decided, at the
recommendation of Jeff, to meet with a pastor of a sister church that
had recently adopted a child through a Christian based adoption agency.
Less than FIVE WEEKS after that fateful meeting, Dylan had joined our
forever family and we started the journey of adopting this fine young
man!

Thanks to the lessons learned while teaching Sunday school, I was
prepared (at least as much as I could be!) to be the kind of dad that
Dylan needed!

God has truly blessed our family in so many ways through WBTS and
continues to do so each and every day !!!